Why a Spider?
I was recently asked, “Why on earth did you chose to write a children’s book series with a spider as the protagonist? Spiders aren’t cute or cuddly. In fact, they’re potentially dangerous and just plain creepy.” I could have chosen a cute little mouse, a cat, a dog or even a guinea pig. So, why a spider?
The idea for the stories came to me several years ago on my drive home from school. Earlier that day, I’d been teaching a third grade music class when a spider dropped down from the ceiling to hang in mid-air above our heads. Some of the kids noticed it and suddenly everyone took off screaming to the far corners of the room where they huddled like frightened puppies. In my attempt to restore order, I suggested that the little spider was probably harmless. “Maybe it’s just interested our music class and it wanted to participate,” I said.
Once the spider had retreated back up its line and disappeared into the ceiling tiles, the children returned to the rug and sat down. We spent the rest of that class period talking about spiders and why we’re afraid of them. The kids were happy to share personal tales of scary encounters with spiders and to recite all of the facts about spiders they’d learned in science class.
One child remarked, “What if that spider just wanted to watch, listen and learn about music? Even if it really loves music though, a spider can’t sing or play instruments, like we do.” Another classmate responded, “I’ll bet it feels left out. It’s so small, and probably more afraid of us than we are of it.” Though they had fun trying, no one could think of an instrument that a spider would be able to play and everyone agreed that a little spider would have plenty of reasons to be afraid of humans.
On my drive home that night, I started thinking about the wonderful conversation I’d had with those third graders. I began to imagine that little music room spider as a character with a distinct personality and a voice:
She was a keen observer of the goings on in the music room—curious, adventurous and eager to learn. She wished she could make friends and participate in the
music-making, like the kids in the school. Because of her appearance, living among humans who feared and despised her was sometimes discouraging. But she would face those challenges with brave determination and a positive outlook.
I could see how this little spider, who observed music lessons all day long and got to know all of the kids and adults that occupied that room, would have learned a great deal about music and about human nature.
I tried to keep my eyes on the road while my mind was spinning with ideas for stories about the music room escapades of that little spider. By the time I’d arrived home, my protagonist had a name—Octavia—and I’d composed the lyrics for a song:
Oh, spiders can be scary,
such quiet creepy creatures.
Sometimes big and sometimes hairy,
yes, spiders can be very scary.
But, spiders can be charming,
so kind and very gentle.
Would not want to be alarming.
Yes, spiders can be very charming.
Though you may be fearful
of creatures unfamiliar,
unusual and so alarming,
hard to look at quite disarming,
just remember, spiders can be very charming.
© 2020 Octavia’s World
—Susan Calkins
